The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek and the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross are both five-seat subcompact SUVs with four-cylinder power, but they differ on traction. The Crosstrek includes Subaru Symmetrical AWD on every trim. The Corolla Cross gas grades start with front-wheel drive and offer all-wheel drive as an option. Against those gas grades, the Crosstrek also makes more power, rides higher off the ground, and offers more towing capacity on the Wilderness. Here is how the two compare on the numbers that matter to drivers in Fort Moore.
The 2026 Crosstrek comes in five trims: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Wilderness. Every one includes Subaru Symmetrical AWD, the 180-hp 2.5L SUBARU BOXER® engine, dual-function X-MODE® with Hill Descent Control, and EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology. The Corolla Cross divides its lineup into three gas grades and three hybrid grades, with all-wheel drive standard only on the hybrid.
Equipment climbs quickly from there. Premium adds raised roof rails, Keyless Access with push-button start, and the Subaru 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus System. Sport brings 18-inch wheels and the All-Weather Package with heated front seats. The Limited adds leather-trimmed upholstery and a heated steering wheel. The Crosstrek Wilderness pushes further, with a raised suspension, 9.3 inches of ground clearance, and Yokohama GEOLANDAR® all-terrain tires.
The Crosstrek makes more power in gas form: 180 hp and 178 lb-ft from a 2.5L SUBARU BOXER® four-cylinder, against 169 hp and 151 lb-ft from the 2.0L four-cylinder in the Corolla Cross. That is 11 hp and 27 lb-ft more when you merge onto Phenix City, AL highways.
Compare gas all-wheel-drive models, and the Crosstrek returns the higher highway rating. The Crosstrek Base, Premium, and Limited trims get 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway*, while the all-wheel-drive gas Corolla Cross gets 29 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. If you want traction on every trim plus up to 3,500 pounds** of towing on the Wilderness, the Crosstrek makes the stronger case.
Both SUVs seat five and fold the rear seats flat. The Crosstrek uses 60/40-split flat-folding rear seatbacks that open up to 54.7 cubic feet of cargo volume, or 54.9 cubic feet on the Wilderness, and it adds roof cross-bar mounting points on the Base trim and raised roof rails from the Premium up. Rear passengers get 36.5 inches of legroom and 38.0 inches of headroom inside a cabin measuring 100.5 cubic feet of passenger volume.
Outside, the Crosstrek stands 8.7 inches off the pavement compared to 8.1 inches for the Corolla Cross, and the Wilderness raises that to 9.3 inches for deeper snow and rougher trails around Smiths Station, AL. Wheel arch and lower body cladding come standard across the lineup. Colors include Crystal White Pearl, Magnetite Gray Metallic, and Sapphire Blue Pearl across the lineup, with Geyser Blue reserved for the Wilderness. See them in person at our new vehicle showroom.
Both SUVs come standard with a driver-assist suite: EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology on the Crosstrek and Toyota Safety Sense™ 3.0 on the Corolla Cross; the Crosstrek Limited also adds Blind-Spot Detection, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and Reverse Automatic Braking. Infotainment favors the Crosstrek at the top of the range. The Base trim runs a dual 7.0-inch Multimedia System with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration, while Premium through Wilderness move up to the Subaru 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus System, more than an inch larger than the 10.5-inch display on the Corolla Cross.
Ready to see how the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek handles your daily route? Visit Group 1 Subaru Rivertown to see the 2026 Crosstrek in person and schedule a test drive. Our team can walk you through standard Symmetrical AWD, compare trim levels, and answer questions about equipment. When you are ready to move forward, our finance center can help you build a plan that fits.
Disclaimers:
*EPA fuel economy estimates. Actual mileage will vary with driving conditions and your vehicle’s condition.
**Maximum towing capacity varies by trim level. Trailer brakes may be needed. See your retailer for details.
